Time travel has long been a staple of science fiction, from the DeLorean in Back to the Future to Doctor Who’s TARDIS. However, recent scientific breakthroughs may have brought the concept closer to reality.
Scientists believe that time travel could be theoretically possible, but it wouldn’t be as glamorous as Hollywood would have you believe. The closest possibility for time travel is actually a scientific phenomenon called time dilation.
According to NASA, everyone is already experiencing time dilation at a rate of one second per second due to their speed relative to the Earth’s surface. If someone could travel faster than this rate, they would technically be experiencing time travel.
The theory was first proposed by Albert Einstein in 1905 and later tested by scientists Joseph Hafele and Richard Keating. They conducted an experiment where four atomic clocks were flown on different aeroplanes at varying speeds relative to the Earth’s rotation. The results showed that the clocks flying against the Earth’s rotation lost time, while those flying with it gained time.
This phenomenon has also been observed in astronauts who spend extended periods on the International Space Station. US astronaut Scott Kelly returned to Earth slightly younger than his twin brother Mark due to his prolonged exposure to orbit.
While real-life time travel may not be as exciting as in science fiction, the concept is now being taken more seriously by scientists. Researchers are exploring ways to harness this phenomenon for potential practical applications.
Source: https://www.ladbible.com/news/science/does-time-travel-exist-einstein-dilation-223627-20250330